MarkSimpson
New Member
Friday
Arrive, transfer to Playa d'en Bossa, check into Jet. Very nice apartments, really spacious, spotless. Bit noisy at night but that just encourages you to stay out later. Would definitely stay there again.
Spend a few hours at Bora Bora. Gee is back, looking like he's never been away, and the place is as great as ever. It's good to be home!
Saturday
San Antonio. Spend the afternoon snorkelling off the rocks past Kanya, then sit outside Cafe del Mar and drink wine and beer for one of the best sunsets I have seen in some time. Eat in Savannah - it's the same menu as last year. Mmmm, Thai red curry. Ater dinner and sangria it's into the funky lounge for a boogie. More people seem to be discovering it every year and it is busier than I have seen it before with some great tunes. Better than most clubs at home and you don't even have to pay in.
Sunday
There's only one thing to do on Sunday. It's nice to see the temporary terrace looking just like a smaller version of the old one, but something is missing. Something called Steve Lawler to be precise. Nic Fanciuli puts in a cracking show, pure filth, but Tom Novy is fairly cheesy and Groove Armada aren't on form at all. By all accounts they rocked Pacha on Friday, but tonight they are just dull, although it's always great to hear Superstylin'.
Inside is a different story. Ivan Smagghe plays some really nasty electro and really rocks the Discoteca. I can't remember what the guy who played next was called, but after a slightly dodgy start he pulled the finger out and pulled some nice acieeed out of his bag. Having been disappointed by them at Shine, I'm a little apprehensive about 2 Many DJs, but needn't have worried. It's a cracking set and when they drop 'Higher State of Consciousness' the place erupts like no club has ever erupted before.
Elsewhere, the NDSM crew sound like they are playing some great stuff in the Caja Roja, but unfortunately it is too packed to breathe, much less dance. The Premier Etage is very cool, I have never been there before and it's a welcome break from the madness elsewhere.
Monday
Have to leave DC10 early due to an ill girlfriend, but Circo Loco seems to be shaping up to be as mad as ever with some great tech-house. Eat lamb shoulder at a very tasty barbecue restaurant in the Jet complex and sit in the apartment drinking until it gets light.
Tuesday
Take a pedalo out from Playa d'en Bossa (I think this was Tuesday anyway, it all starts to get a little hazy from this point) for some more snorkelling etc. Then it's into town for a few beverages around Sa Penya before hitting Pacha for the Defected opening party. This proves to be one of the best nights I have had a Pacha. Junior Jack and Kid Creme play a seriously funky set (although the MC does his best to spoil it) before Sandy Rivera pumps it up a notch or two. 'Move Your Body' is an inspired choice of last track.
Finally locate the funky room, which is, umm, funky. The Global Room is much better than usual with some decent, soulful r&b and none of that hip-hop nonsense and the terrace has the same chilled vibe as ever. Nice. Round off the night with a visit to the Croissant Show and crawl into bed at about 11:00.
Wednesday
Sleep all day, and I mean all day. Get up and go straight to San Antonio where it is completely clouded over - no sunset. Eat a Thai beef salad from Rita's cantina. I am in food heaven.
Go to Bar M, where the drinks are much more reasonably priced than I remember, to get ready for Garlands. Although only about a third of people are dressed to the theme, it's a great atmosphere. Meet lots of randoms, take about 70 photos. The music is slightly cheesy but it's all good fun and it's nice to hear a few tunes that I used to be into years ago get an airing.
Thursday
We have to leave our room at 11 on Friday morning, so to go out tonight would be madness. We head into town, have a drink in Sa Penya and eat at La Oliva in Dalt Villa. Nice surroundings, delicious food. I have monkfish but my girlfriend's duck is one of those meals that makes you wonder if it will ever be beaten. Could sit all night and munch on their bread and garlic mayonnaise, but for some reason there seems to be a Cream ticket in my hand and I'm getting onto a bus to head back to PDB and get ready to go out.
I've never been to Amnesia before and, having been a full-on trance monkey some years ago, I'm a little concerned about what is in store for me. We decide to start on the terrace to ease ourselves into the night gently. It's bigger than I expected and doesn't really feel like a terrace at all, but the tunes are OK, if a little cheesy. Really shocked by the bar prices, which are extortionate even by Ibiza standards.
Eventually decide to brave the main room. Immediately wish I'd brought my ear plugs, which I brought out on every other night but didn't wear, but the music sounds good. Van Dyk plays a great set, uplifting, melodic, nothing too hard and plenty of classics, I have a little dance on top of a bass bin. The lights look fantastic and that smoke machine is amazing, although the place seems a tad overcrowded Meet a guy from Belfast I haven't seen since Halloween. Stay until the end, then hang about the car park for a while. Get back some time after eight. Oh dear.
Friday
Pack, sleep for about half an hour, wake up feeling worse, finish packing. Sleep in the basement of Jet for about an hour, feel marginally better. Go for a swim, eat a Bora Bora burger and get the bus to the airport. Manage to blag a bigger seat, but don't sleep much due to some kid chattering away. Arrive in Dublin and one member of the group has to be taken to hospital due to sunburn. He gets back and starts drinking Jagermeister along with two others. Cue messiness.
Saturday
Haven't slept. Miss first two buses due to hangover (not my own). Finally arrive in Belfast around 12:30, go to bed until 6, get up, have dinner, go to bed until 11:00 Sunday. Still feel knackered today (Monday).
[/b]The verdict
Going in a group is fun but tiring. Going for a week is a bit too crazy - a fortnight gives you more time to relax. I was glad I finally made it to Amnesia but disappointed not to get to Salinas.
Priorities for next year: Salinas, Formentera, more chill-out time generally, Underground.
Arrive, transfer to Playa d'en Bossa, check into Jet. Very nice apartments, really spacious, spotless. Bit noisy at night but that just encourages you to stay out later. Would definitely stay there again.
Spend a few hours at Bora Bora. Gee is back, looking like he's never been away, and the place is as great as ever. It's good to be home!
Saturday
San Antonio. Spend the afternoon snorkelling off the rocks past Kanya, then sit outside Cafe del Mar and drink wine and beer for one of the best sunsets I have seen in some time. Eat in Savannah - it's the same menu as last year. Mmmm, Thai red curry. Ater dinner and sangria it's into the funky lounge for a boogie. More people seem to be discovering it every year and it is busier than I have seen it before with some great tunes. Better than most clubs at home and you don't even have to pay in.
Sunday
There's only one thing to do on Sunday. It's nice to see the temporary terrace looking just like a smaller version of the old one, but something is missing. Something called Steve Lawler to be precise. Nic Fanciuli puts in a cracking show, pure filth, but Tom Novy is fairly cheesy and Groove Armada aren't on form at all. By all accounts they rocked Pacha on Friday, but tonight they are just dull, although it's always great to hear Superstylin'.
Inside is a different story. Ivan Smagghe plays some really nasty electro and really rocks the Discoteca. I can't remember what the guy who played next was called, but after a slightly dodgy start he pulled the finger out and pulled some nice acieeed out of his bag. Having been disappointed by them at Shine, I'm a little apprehensive about 2 Many DJs, but needn't have worried. It's a cracking set and when they drop 'Higher State of Consciousness' the place erupts like no club has ever erupted before.
Elsewhere, the NDSM crew sound like they are playing some great stuff in the Caja Roja, but unfortunately it is too packed to breathe, much less dance. The Premier Etage is very cool, I have never been there before and it's a welcome break from the madness elsewhere.
Monday
Have to leave DC10 early due to an ill girlfriend, but Circo Loco seems to be shaping up to be as mad as ever with some great tech-house. Eat lamb shoulder at a very tasty barbecue restaurant in the Jet complex and sit in the apartment drinking until it gets light.
Tuesday
Take a pedalo out from Playa d'en Bossa (I think this was Tuesday anyway, it all starts to get a little hazy from this point) for some more snorkelling etc. Then it's into town for a few beverages around Sa Penya before hitting Pacha for the Defected opening party. This proves to be one of the best nights I have had a Pacha. Junior Jack and Kid Creme play a seriously funky set (although the MC does his best to spoil it) before Sandy Rivera pumps it up a notch or two. 'Move Your Body' is an inspired choice of last track.
Finally locate the funky room, which is, umm, funky. The Global Room is much better than usual with some decent, soulful r&b and none of that hip-hop nonsense and the terrace has the same chilled vibe as ever. Nice. Round off the night with a visit to the Croissant Show and crawl into bed at about 11:00.
Wednesday
Sleep all day, and I mean all day. Get up and go straight to San Antonio where it is completely clouded over - no sunset. Eat a Thai beef salad from Rita's cantina. I am in food heaven.
Go to Bar M, where the drinks are much more reasonably priced than I remember, to get ready for Garlands. Although only about a third of people are dressed to the theme, it's a great atmosphere. Meet lots of randoms, take about 70 photos. The music is slightly cheesy but it's all good fun and it's nice to hear a few tunes that I used to be into years ago get an airing.
Thursday
We have to leave our room at 11 on Friday morning, so to go out tonight would be madness. We head into town, have a drink in Sa Penya and eat at La Oliva in Dalt Villa. Nice surroundings, delicious food. I have monkfish but my girlfriend's duck is one of those meals that makes you wonder if it will ever be beaten. Could sit all night and munch on their bread and garlic mayonnaise, but for some reason there seems to be a Cream ticket in my hand and I'm getting onto a bus to head back to PDB and get ready to go out.
I've never been to Amnesia before and, having been a full-on trance monkey some years ago, I'm a little concerned about what is in store for me. We decide to start on the terrace to ease ourselves into the night gently. It's bigger than I expected and doesn't really feel like a terrace at all, but the tunes are OK, if a little cheesy. Really shocked by the bar prices, which are extortionate even by Ibiza standards.
Eventually decide to brave the main room. Immediately wish I'd brought my ear plugs, which I brought out on every other night but didn't wear, but the music sounds good. Van Dyk plays a great set, uplifting, melodic, nothing too hard and plenty of classics, I have a little dance on top of a bass bin. The lights look fantastic and that smoke machine is amazing, although the place seems a tad overcrowded Meet a guy from Belfast I haven't seen since Halloween. Stay until the end, then hang about the car park for a while. Get back some time after eight. Oh dear.
Friday
Pack, sleep for about half an hour, wake up feeling worse, finish packing. Sleep in the basement of Jet for about an hour, feel marginally better. Go for a swim, eat a Bora Bora burger and get the bus to the airport. Manage to blag a bigger seat, but don't sleep much due to some kid chattering away. Arrive in Dublin and one member of the group has to be taken to hospital due to sunburn. He gets back and starts drinking Jagermeister along with two others. Cue messiness.
Saturday
Haven't slept. Miss first two buses due to hangover (not my own). Finally arrive in Belfast around 12:30, go to bed until 6, get up, have dinner, go to bed until 11:00 Sunday. Still feel knackered today (Monday).
[/b]The verdict
Going in a group is fun but tiring. Going for a week is a bit too crazy - a fortnight gives you more time to relax. I was glad I finally made it to Amnesia but disappointed not to get to Salinas.
Priorities for next year: Salinas, Formentera, more chill-out time generally, Underground.
